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Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train tickets - Search & book deals

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Official Amtrak partner

Wanderu is an official partner of Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel in North America and Europe. We partner with more than 300 bus & train companies around the world to help you search, compare, and find the best travel deals all in one place.

About Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

The Pacific Surfliner is a passenger train service that runs along the Pacific coast of Southern California, connecting San Luis Obispo to the north with San Diego to the south. The line is part of the national railroad network of Amtrak, the largest passenger train service in America. The Pacific Surfliner is the third most popular Amtrak train route after the Northeast Regional and the Acela.

The Pacific Surfliner was inaugurated in 2000, after the route’s predecessor, the San Diegan, was renamed to better represent the service’s coverage. The new name was based on what the locals called the railroad line that the train utilizes due to its proximity to California’s Pacific Coast – the Surf Line. While the portion between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles is also served by Amtrak’s Coast Starlight, the Pacific Surfliner is the only Amtrak train that travels from Los Angeles to San Diego.

Running right along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, the Pacific Surfliner is among the most famous Amtrak routes due to the unique scenic views it presents. The train parallels the beach for large portions of the 268-mile ride, so close that the ocean water often hits the car windows.

Like most Amtrak trains, the Pacific Surfliner offers first-class amenities like onboard restrooms, free WiFi, seats with extra legroom and power outlets, as well as a snack bar where you can purchase food & drinks. More importantly, though, the Surfliner serves its name right because it also comes equipped with storage racks for surfboards.

Since Amtrak is an official partner of Wanderu, here you can find the cheapest available Pacific Surfliner train tickets and book the trip that best suits your needs at no additional cost. And if you are an Amtrak Guest Rewards member, don’t forget to enter your unique number during checkout, so you can continue collecting points.

Contact Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

Phone number: US: 1 (800) 872-7245

Online support: Amtrak Pacific Surfliner website

**2023** #2 Best Ground Travel Provider in the West **2022** #5 Best Ground Travel Provider in the West

2023
#2 Best Ground Travel Provider in the West
2022
#5 Best Ground Travel Provider in the West

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Amenities

Air conditioningAir conditioning
RestroomRestroom
Extra legroomExtra legroom
Loyalty rewardsLoyalty rewards
Power outletPower outlet
SnacksSnacks
WiFiWiFi

Quickview

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train coverage

Daily Trips1,353
stations29
cities24
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with Amtrak Pacific Surfliner had to say about their travel experience.

Traveling During COVID-19

"They handled the Covid-19 safety measures well"
based on 337 reviews

Onboard Experience

"The internet on the train was great."
based on 376 reviews
"Helpful staff not only at the station but also on board."
based on 478 reviews
"The price was a bargain!"
based on 537 reviews
"Train was on time on both ends of the trip."
based on 519 reviews
"Comfy seating with some tables for groups"
based on 545 reviews
"The restroom and passenger compartment were clean."
based on 544 reviews

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

(Based on 619 reviews)

4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.4

Timeliness

4.6

Staff

4.4

Value

3.9

Condition

4.5

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passenger reviews

5.0

Julian

September 8, 2023- Business

Oceanside to Los Angeles

Went smoothly

4.0

Lynne

August 25, 2023- Visiting friends

Oceanside to Los Angeles

Pros: Fast ride and better than driving. Cons: Track was a little rough in places. The train was seriously crowded. Tips: Without assigned seats there was serious looking for a place to sit.

5.0

Judy

August 11, 2023- Vacation

San Diego to Los Angeles

Pros: an efficient way to travel from San Diego to Los Angeles. The snacks and beverages that were brought to our seats were adequate and fairly healthful. Cons: No on was wearing masks which would be ok if the seats weren't so close together. Even though Covid has settled down a bit I'm 75 and felt a bit uncomfortable sitting so close to a stranger. Tips: cars have different configurations - find out which car has seat configurations to suit your needs and then find out how to get that car when you are boarding.

5.0

Venice

August 5, 2023- Solo travel

San Diego to Los Angeles

Pros: It was pleasant and the conductor announced some birthdays which was special! Cons: NA. Tips: Be mindful with loud children.

3.0

Élisabeth

August 4, 2023- Solo travel

San Diego to Irvine

Pros: Le train était bondé difficile de trouver une place Le voyageur assis face à moi a passer tout son trajet à téléphoner haut et fort sans aucun respect pour son entourage. Tips: Le train nous mène d’un point À à un point B mais je suis déçue par Amtrak.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Routes & Network

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner’s train network features 694 train routes that connect 24 cities serving 29 stations. On average, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner performs about 1353 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offers the highest number of daily train service include Irvine and Los Angeles.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Los Angeles1711:01 am6:18 am
San Diego191:10 pm12:20 am
Santa Barbara1911:01 am4:35 am
Oceanside1711:01 am4:40 am
Irvine1711:01 am5:34 am
Solana Beach1811:01 am4:10 am
Anaheim1711:01 am6:01 am
San Juan Capistrano1811:01 am4:57 am
San Luis Obispo1711:01 am3:11 am

Most popular Amtrak Pacific Surfliner routes

The train from Irvine to Los Angeles is Amtrak Pacific Surfliner’s most popular route. Trips from Los Angeles to San Diego and Los Angeles to Santa Barbara are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak Pacific Surfliner routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Irvine to Los Angeles161h 39m$19
Los Angeles to San Diego143h 7m$35
Los Angeles to Santa Barbara142h 10m$25
Los Angeles to Oceanside72h 14m$28
Irvine to San Diego101h 45m$26
Los Angeles to Solana Beach72h 29m$31
Anaheim to San Diego102h 8m$30
San Juan Capistrano to San Diego101h 31m$23
Fullerton to San Diego102h 16m$31

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Pacific Surfliner tickets can be cancelled for a full refund within the first 24 hours after purchase. If more than 24 hours have passed, the cancellation policy and change fee structure for Amtrak bookings depend on the type of fare you purchased:

Saver Fare tickets: A 25% fee applies for any changes. If you cancel the trip, you will receive an eVoucher worth 75% of the original ticket price.

Value Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable up to 15 or more days before departure. If cancelled less than 14 days before departure, a 25% cancellation fee applies.

Flexible, Business and Premium Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable if cancelled or changed before departure.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable after the train has departed, so be sure to make your updates as soon as possible if your travel plans change.

If your Amtrak Pacific Surfliner ticket is eligible for change or cancellation, you can do that by calling Amtrak’s customer service phone number at 1 (800) 872-7245. To cancel or change your booking online, simply go to www.amtrak.com and click on the “Modify Trip” tab in the upper right corner.

Wanderu also offers an affordable trip protection option by Allianz Global Assistance that you can purchase when booking your tickets. In addition to 24-hour assistance during your trip and coverage for lost or damaged baggage, trip protection can help you get your money back in case you need to cancel or change your trip. You can file a claim to have any Amtrak change or cancellation fees reimbursed if you cannot travel due to covered reasons such as illness, extreme weather, or required work shifts.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train Guide & FAQs

The Pacific Surfliner can go as fast as 90 mph, with an average speed of 41 mph. It takes roughly 5 hours and 45 minutes to travel the entire length of the route between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.
You can get a full refund if your ticket is cancelled within 24 hours of your initial reservation. After that, a refund is no longer available.

You’ll have access to a wide variety of amenities when traveling on the Pacific Surfliner. Every train consists of a business class car, three coach cars, a café car, and a coach or baggage car. Checked baggage is stored on a lower lever with coach seating provided in the upper level.

Business Class: Whether you’re booking the Pacific Surfliner tickets for a short commute or traveling long distance, consider the Business Class experience. For an additional $15 charge, passengers who ride Business Class enjoy the best amenities, including complimentary newspapers, free beverage and snack service, reclining seats and extra leg room. Each seat is also equipped with power outlets, Wi-Fi, reading lights and large tray tables to make your journey even more relaxing and comfortable.

Coach Class: Great for both short and long distance trips, coach class offers lots of legroom. Passengers will enjoy comfortable seats equipped with power outlets, Wi-Fi, adjustable lighting, and fold-down tray tables.

Café car: Open to all Pacific Surfliner passengers, the café car offers a great solution to the travelers who didn’t have a time to grab a snack before boarding. No need to worry about the food anymore when you're rushing to catch your train. Ready to satisfy any taste, Pacific Surfliner Cafe offers different meals, snacks and deserts, as well as premium wines and beers.

Yes, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will have WiFi as advertised, some trains might not come equipped with WiFi and onboard WiFi can lose its connection in rural areas. We recommend you bring a book or download a movie just to play it safe. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner WiFi is generally best used for surfing the web, checking emails and chatting with friends; you shouldn’t count on the WiFi to binge watch your favorite show.

Yes, there are power outlets onboard Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains. You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbor might want to charge up their devices as well. With the onboard power outlets, you can charge both a computer and USB devices with a USB power adapter that typically comes with most phones and tablets.

Since Amtrak Pacific Surfliner might sometimes use replacement train vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. We recommend to bring a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

On a typical day, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner has 1353 scheduled train trips in total. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page.

No, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner does not offer will call tickets. You should purchase your tickets online and make sure you have everything you need to board before you arrive at the station.

Yes, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, such as a college ID, won’t work.

Visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide to view the most up-to-date information about Amtrak Pacific Surfliner’s cleaning protocols and adjusted ticket change policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times.


Amtrak Pacific Surfliner provides snacks to satisfy your hunger during your travels. Be sure to pack a credit card and some cash in case you get hungry.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner does not require a printed ticket to board the train. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you by email when you make your reservation. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner goes the extra distance to deliver premium features to its customers.

Do you find yourself squished in a regular seat or just love having extra room to sprawl out? Well you’re in luck as Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offers extra legroom seating. Since there is no standard of what extra legroom is, the extra space you get may vary between train lines, but getting extra is always good.

Cheap Amtrak Pacific Surfliner tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 1,353 Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner tickets start at just $3.70. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak Pacific Surfliner tickets with the lowest available fares every day. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Pacific Surfliner prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travelers know that booking your ticket well in advance is key to finding the lowest price. Ticket prices normally go up the closer you get to the travel date, so don’t miss out on a good deal when you see one. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by traveling on weekdays instead of weekends.

When you’re ready to book, type your departure city and destination city in the search bar above, select your travel date, and let Wanderu work its magic to show you all of the best bus and train ticket prices available for your trip. Pick the ticket that’s best for your budget, schedule, and preferences, and complete the booking right on Wanderu to secure your great deal.

More transportation options

Top Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Routes

Top Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Destinations

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